Derek POV

"So, how's your girlfriend?" Stiles shouted from the kitchen.

I stopped short of the stairs, succeeding at keeping my expression clean, but failing miserably at preventing my heartrate from pausing for a second.

"I'm sorry?" I glared sharply at Stiles as he came into view.

"What? Sorry nevermind, it was a joke", Stiles held his hands up in defense, and my glare lessened a bit from satisfaction.

"Well that may have been a joke, but his heart beat wasn't", Erica held a mischievous grin, "Why'd it skip a beat? Are you hiding something?"

The betas and the humans and banshee stared at me expectantly, and I kept my face a blank slate. "Nothing that concerns you. Why do you have something to hide? Maybe like the hickey Boyd gave you a few minutes ago? Because if that's it then tell him to stop trying so hard, let the first one heal."

Erica's face blossomed red that spread down her neck and chest. Boyd averted his gaze and took a step back as Erica pulled her jacket higher, attempting to cover the faint yellow discoloration beneath her jaw. Taking the opportunity to escape, I pushed past them and into the kitchen, snatching an apple from the bowl on the counter. The rest of the pack settled in the living room, splaying themselves out on the couch and armchairs. Save for Lydia and Scott, whom tip toed in with a sullen expression.

"You know pack is all about honesty", Scott kept his head down, and he reeked of nervousness.

With an agitated sigh and a grunt, "Can we really not let this go?"

"Derek, you're acting suspicious. Gone every day for an hour at the same time, averting our questions and showing for a long time after you get back like you're trying to take off someone's scent. It's nerve wracking because we've got no idea where you're going. It makes me wonder if you're making alliances without us." Scott gained confidence as he spoke, gradually getting louder from a mumble to a full on yell.

We could hear Jackson from his seat on the couch, "Scott's at it again." Lydia snickered beside Scott as he yelled at her boyfriend to shut up. I huffed, "Haven't we been over this already?" I looked at Lydia for some support.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Hey I think you're visiting some hot girlfriend you haven't told us about yet." With a sigh, I responded, "there's no girlfriend. Scott listen to my heartbeat. I am not partaking in any illegal actions against you or the pack. Not even anything supernatural." My voice was monotone as I droned on.

The two of them shared a glance, and as they looked back they held a pair of fraternal expressions. Lydia appeared partially unconvinced, and Scott was confused. "Then what are you doing at 3 o'clock on the dot almost every day?!"

Giving Scott another look that read 'Stop Asking Questions', and glaring at him through red hued eyes. "Don't worry about it." Scott huffed and Lydia pursed her lips, but it was no matter, I climbed the stairs to shower. Holding the glossy paper with Angeline's number in my pocket.

…

Angeline POV

Work is a drag, and the pay isn't the best. The itty bitty one room apartment with a bathroom and a single counter with a sink assists that statement. When I got home from work it was late, props to me for choosing a job almost all the way across town.

I threw my bag in the computer chair, tossing myself flat onto the bed. Derek Hale had been on my mind nonstop, and it is not ok. I've had boyfriends before, some that I honest to god thought were going places. But this guy has been practically rewiring my brain so that all I can think about is him. It's unfair. He hasn't been in to the DeVille since I gave him my number, and he hasn't called. 2 days. 2 days I've been going nuts and out of my mind, trying to figure out which part I lost him at.

I got up and filled up a sample cup from an ice cream place with tap water. Did I come on too strong? I crossed the room and poured the water into the palm sized pot atop the mantle beside the front door. Pressuring him for his name, maybe? But I hadn't smelled off put from him, in fact, I smelled intrigue.

So what was it?

Thinking so hard on something that I have no control over was driving me insane. In resolve I decided to think about something else, sadly that something else was still about Derek.

I still hadn't reserved judgement on him yet, in a supernatural manner at least. No, I was sold in the human interaction part. But as to his species, I had my suspicions. His actions were reserved, so it was hard to gauge what he was that way. His hearing was immaculate, once when she was in the back with the cook told her that the toaster was broke. He said a regular bagel was fine for today, smugness seeping from his sarcastic and tiny little smirk. He had fast reflexes, proven by when Karynna slipped on a water puddle, sending an empty coffee cup flying. Derek had reached down quickly and nonchalantly caught it, moments before shattering besides him on the floor. He didn't even look up from his book, just sat down the mug on the table silently. Personally, I thought that was one of the most attractive things I've ever seen.

He had all the makings of a Class A Werewolf. Though his anti-social nature was unlike our kind. But I've done enough googling to know why, if someone had been through what he had, I would expect to find them in an asylum if they didn't act closed off.

With an elongated sigh, I shed my shirt and bra and pants. Donning a soft, thin clothed tee shirt to wear instead. I climbed into bed, pulling my pillow long ways and hugging it tight beneath my head, happily burying my face in the white pillow case.

The next morning I woke earlier than normal, sighing at the knowledge that I wouldn't be getting any sleep more sleep. I sat up, tossing off the thick white comforter, frigid air prickling the goose bumps on my skin. I pulled off the soft tee shirt, tossing it and landing limply on my bed. I turned on the water for a shower and looked at my phone. One new message from Karynna:

'Hey b b, G ms ssd me 2 gt u her erly 4 yr shft. We h v 2 gt lv 4 th!s wrd fmly run!on up nrth. U opn n cls. Puff w!ll nly b thr n hr. by b bs. C u sn. ;) :o'

I scoffed at her horrible shorthand. 'You know that the only reason I understood that was because I'm smart enough to understand it?'

'Yea, cu sn, hopfuly!'

At the DeVille, I arrived just as did Puff. It was short for Pufferfish, because he was a big guy that was as adorable as a panda bear. He was from Hawaii, a thick, dark, tan and a big elegant tribal tat on his outer bicep. And when he gets happy, his face poofs out like a pufferfish.

"Eyyy, Aloha Angie. How'd you sleep?" Puff's voice was thick with a Hawaiian accent.

"Well enough. Are you off already?" I asked as he hadn't left the side of his truck whilst I was unlocking the doors.

Puff shrugged his large shoulders, "Yeah, today is my off day. I just came by to check on you, didn't want to you to be alone on opening. That's bad luck you know."

I laughed, "Yeah puff, I know. Enjoy your day".

"Will do. And hey! Don't break my kitchen!" Puff loaded himself in the driver seat as I stepped inside and laughed. "Mahalo!" he yelled as his teal green pickup sped away.

I chuckled and walked briskly inside, slamming the door behind me. I tossed my keys and bag onto the counter, hands on my hips as I looked around. Derek was pretty much our number one customer. And since I screwed that plan up, I'm most likely going to be alone for the day. Except for a spare old man that sits in Karynna's section next to the bar.

I went behind the bar and pulled out a shot glass, and the half full bottle of Jack Daniels from the staff stash. I poured the brown liquid into the glass, scooping it up and swallowing it down quickly. The burn only lasted for a moment, it was a real shame it wouldn't take any effect either. The day hadn't even started and I could already feel the weight on my shoulders.

"Isn't it a little early for Whisky?" I looked up to a tall drink of presumed werewolf with black hair and amazing eyes. With a curt nod, I replied, "Its five o'clock somewhere. Greece actually."

Derek nodded, holding his hands together in front of him, wide stance. "What can I get you, your usual? You can set yourself down in your corner. It might take another moment to make your order, it's just me today." I stopped when I noticed he hadn't moved; an almost sheepish expression on his face. The scent of hesitance and awkward wafting from.

I braced myself on the counter, hands flat on the plastic cover. "Look sweetheart, I know how to take a hint. You don't have to stand there and look like a kicked puppy." If he weren't standing there I think I might've giggled at my own tightly spoken words.

"I wanted to call." I stopped moving and looked at him, breaking from disinfecting the counter. "I'm surrounded by teenagers that are trying their hearts out every second to weasel their way into my business. Their already suspicious that I leave every day at the same time and don't say anything when I come back. Much as I would've liked to have called, they would've been here in ten minutes flat. Grilling you down to every aspect of your life."

I let out something between a sigh and a chuckle, "Sweet as that is, I can take care of my own."

He quirked an eyebrow, "they're teenagers. Nosey, persistent, teenagers."

"Baby, if I ran running behind a man for every set of teenagers who tried to get in my business or ruin my relationship, I wouldn't've slipped you my number and a wink." I smirked and leaned forward, hand on my hip. Derek seemed uncomfortable with me calling him 'baby', with werewolf eyes I could see the faintest pink touch across his cheeks and neck. "It's not good to lie to your pack, though", Derek flinched and struggled to keep his expression straight.

"You a hunter?" I shook my head silently, scrubbing circles into the counter once more, "Omega. Have been for about a year. You were pretty obvious to spot, leather bounds on supernatural knowledge. Tell me something, you remember my name?"

He looked stunned for a moment, but moved for the first time since he walked in. "Angeline."

"Did you actually remember or did you eavesdrop on Karynna and Judy after I left?"

"In all honesty? The latter."

"So do you want your food?"

"You actually alone today?"

I groaned, "Are you always this difficult?"

"Yes."

I laughed, and looked at him incredulously. "Yes I'm alone today. Karynna and Judy had a family reunion up north and Puff has the day off." I poured another shot of Whisky and slid it forward. "Now prove I can trust you after not calling and not coming in for two days and being an alpha with a pack of teenagers."

After a moment of consideration he stepped forwards and tipped the glass back. Derek braced his hands on the counter and leaned forwards, practically nose to nose with me. "So?"

"So, do you wanna play 20 questions?"

"No", I smirked.